January 11, 2017

Jackson Pijl
Why Japan Would Conquer
Geography
Japan consists of many small islands, with the four main ones being Honshu, Hokkaido,
Kyushu and Shikoku. These islands are surrounded by water, which keeps them isolated from
other countries and less vulnerable to attacks. The sea also gave them the constant food
supply, as well as the weather to advance agriculturally.

Economy and Trade

Japan’s trading industry did not gain momentum until 57 AD, but Japan has been trading
with China since 2000 BC, when Chinese tradesmen sailed to Japan via canoe. Japan mainly
traded with Korea and China. Other countries would trade bronze and iron for Japan’s rice and
gold. Rice was the main export for Japan, since they had a great supply of it due to weather, but
everyone was also interested in Japan’s silk. Artisans would independently trade with nations as
a way to become wealthy.

Art and Architecture

During the Heian Period (794 AD - 1185 AD), the best works of literature were created
by women. There were even some advancements in the arts, including that the first full-length
novel that was created by Lady Murasaki Shikibu in 1000 AD and was called “​The Tale of
Genji​”. They also had poetry contests and games. By the 1400’s, most art forms were
developed, including ink wash painting, ikebana flower arrangements, japanese gardening,
bonsai, Noh theatre, and tea ceremonies.

When it came to architecture, there was little stone so wood was the most important
material to use. Commoners started out in thatched pit houses made from wood and straw,
which eventually was upgraded to chinese style houses. Villages surrounded themselves with
moats and fences/guard towers, since wars between tribes were common. Advanced
architecture was saved for temples, storehouses, and shrines because they were the most
important buildings. Also, the most important buildings like shrines would be torn down and
updated every two decades. Things such as temples would be designed with mandalas (ancient
geometric tools) and with the design of the spiritual universe in mind.

Military
Japan’s strongest military evolved in during the Heian Period. The people who were in
the army at this time were called Samurais, which means “to serve”. They used spears, bow and
arrows, and swords to fight. These Samurais valued things like honesty, respect, courage,
self-control, benevolence, loyalty and self-sacrifice. There was no mercy with the Samurais, if
you were targeted, you would definitely be killed. The Samurais would be taught to give
themselves up for the cause of the greater good, and that it was very honorable to die in battle.
They lived by the Samurai's Code. The Samurai's challenged the central government in 1192,
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which turned into the Gempei War, and in the end the Samurai’s won. From 1333 up into the
1800’s the military was a fierce force and had most of the government’s power.
Philosophy
Early philosophy was used to help classify and assimilate ideas and practices that were
coming in from mainland Asia. This was partly the reason behind the Seventeen Article
Constitution of 604, which was a code of morals for the people to follow. Also, with the help from
Japanese thinkers Kukai (774-835) and Saicho (767-822), schools (including Shingon and
Tendai Buddhist schools) in Japan developed sophisticated doctrine and practices. The thinkers
in the Heian Period also brought about the idea that “every phenomenon was an expression of
the activity of the cosmos, which itself wa identified with the buddha known as the Dainichi
Nyorai. The whole cosmos is, therefore, fully expressed in every phenomenon.” (Britannica)
These thinkers also helped develop the aesthetic themes of elegance through their courtly
refinement, as well as a distinctive value of poignancy and sensitivity.

Religion and Culture

Most of the Japanese land was ruled through tribes, and the most common religions
among these tribes are Shinto and Buddhism. Shinto was a belief that was based off of the
belief that their ancestors became nature spirits which were known by the name Kami. Each
tribe would worship their own Kami. They did not have a sacred text, but would constantly
create shrines in natural settings to perform ceremonies and ask for blessings. Another common
belief was Buddhism, which was brought over from China and Korea.

Women were treated as equals, so people were against the beating of women. Women
could also hold economic power by owning land, and collecting income. Both men and women
would hold community meetings, and everyone was treated fairly. The people loved ceremonies
and rituals, so many festivals were held throughout the year. Japanese families were also
responsible for one another and whenever someone violated a law or did something
dishonourable, it would affect the whole family. There were some incidents where one family
member did something so dishonourable that the whole family would be executed.

Government and Laws

The Government structure started with the Emperor, then the Shogun, the Daimyo, the
Samurai, the Ronin (a samurai that does not have a lord), the Peasants, the Artisans and the
Merchants. They only had one Emperor at a time, and the Emperor was always a descendant of
the sun goddess Yamato. When an Emperor dies, the oldest male from the Yamato clan
becomes Emperor. The Emperor was mostly seen as a figurehead, and didn’t make many
decisions or have much influence. The main form of government fluctuated between the
imperial government and the two main Shoguns; Kamakura shogun and Ashikaga Shogun. In
100 BC, the wealth of the people was measured by how much rice they produced. The rice was
measured in Kokus, with one koku weighing 180 litres. Taxes were charged using rice. High
ranking workers would be paid with rice instead of coins because it was difficult to distribute
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coins to all the isolated villages. The government collected taxes by maintaining registers on all
the citizens.

Most of Japan’s laws were written, starting with the Seventeen Article Constitution in 604
AD. It was created by Prince Shotoku and the thinkers of that time with regards of what the
morals of the country should be. It enforces that the country should be under the influence of a
single ruler, that the officials that are chosen are chosen because of merit and not heredity, and
the compliance of the commoners. The code also touches on being loyal to the Buddha and
what the virtues of the bureaucracy are (justice, diligence and decorum). The next Code was the
Taiho Code of 701. This code established the way the government worked; how the central
government had provinces that were ruled by governors and that the different districts had
district governors who were selected locally. It also outlined that townships had 50 households
governed by headmen, along with establishing peal and administrative laws. The Yoro Code of
718 outlined the division between The Department of Administration and the Department of
Religion (the latter holding more power). It also outlined that the provincial governor should
represent the throne, as well as civil, military and judicial functions. The last big Code was that
of the Samurais, also known as the Bushido. The Bushido Code was rarely broken, and helped
the warriors not fear battle. It helped them become one with their weapon, rejects negative ways
of thinking, and ingrains into the Samurais that it was honorable to die in battle, and
dishonourable if captured. In the case a samurai was captured, the Bushido states to commit
suicide as a way to gain back your honour.

Science and Technology

The Science and Technology advancements came when the Japanese figured out how
to grow agriculture in the wet fields. By the Yayoi Period (300 BC - 250 AD), they were aware
and working with irrigation which helped with the wet field agriculture, as well as casting bronze
and iron, making advanced architecture and using commercialism. The advances in working
with the wet fields led to an excess of food. With this came the first form of currency in Japan.
The bronze that was casted was used in upper class jewelry, mirrors, swords and
ritualistic/ceremonial artifacts, while the iron that was casted was for the commoners blades to
harvest the crops.

Advancements
Advancements in Japan were constant throughout history. Extensive settlements in East
Asia were first founded in Japan. In the Yayoi Period (300 BC - 250 AD), evidence of
well-engineered drainage systems used to maintain paddy fields was found, as well as ditches
and earthworks that served as defensive structures around densely populated areas. Japan had
expanded quickly because of their advancements with the Wet Fields. In 600 AD they built a
proper road system for the army and for to get from village to village. The first full-length novel
was created in Japan (1000 AD). By 1450, Japan’s population was around 10 million and they
went from barter based transitions to currency based transitions.
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Conclusion
Overall, Japan’s geography was ideal to stay isolated and avoid attacks, which keeps
them slightly more secretive and they could quietly plan to invade countries without them
suspecting anything. They had a very strong military, strong enough and loyal enough to win
battles and also die in battle if needed. Their religion was similar to the countries around them,
so that would be an advantage when taking over neighbouring countries because they wouldn’t
have to convert religions, which could’ve been another thing that the countries could’ve rebelled
against. Japan had very good technology when it came to agriculture as well, which led to a
grand increase in population, making it easier to conquer other lands. Japan was always one
step ahead of everyone, from first making pottery to making the first novel to quickly increasing
population and advancing in the arts. If they were smart enough to do those things first, it would
make sense that they would have already thought about how people would attack, or what their
battle strategies would be, and they could work around it. With everything that Japan was
capable of doing prior to 1450 AD, there is no reason that Japan would not be the next to
dominate the world.